Chute for coaling stations



Jan. 14, 1930. B. s. sNow CHUTE FOR COALING STATIONS Filed June 16I 1927 Jan. 14, 1930.

B. s. SNOW CHUTE FOR COALING STATIONS Filed June 16, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 14, v1930. B. s. sNow 1,744,015,

CHUTE FOR COLING STATIONS Filed Jplne 16, 1927 -Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARTON S. SNOW, OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR TO T. IV. SNOW CONSTRUCTION CHUTE FOR COALING STATIONS Application filed June 1G,

My invention relates, more particularly, to railway coaling stations for supplying coal to locomotive tenders; and my prima-ry object, generally stated, is to provide improvements in apparatus of this character to the 'end that they will be better adapted to tunetion for their intended purpose, be less liable to impairment than in t-he case of apparatus as hitherto provided and be more readily controllable by the operator.

Certain of my more speciiic objects are to provide in apparatus ot the character stated and involving` the use of a sii-*inging chute member for directing the coal into the tender, for the so mounting of this chute that it will be movably supported for movement on a rigid support and its movement from discharging position to the necessary position above the clearance line prescribed in railway practice will be minimized with the manifest advantages; to provide improved means for sprinkling the coal in its discharge from the apparatus; to provide a structure ci the undercut gate type in which the power required ior moving the gate to closed position, particularly should a lump of coal become lodged between the gate and the cover plate ot.' the chute member controlled by the gate will be considerably reduced: to

t provide a structure in which the swinging chute portion wiii be mounted on a rigid portion of the apparatus and other than the outer e.f;tremity oi the stationary chute portion ot' the apparatus; to provide a structure oiiapparatus ot the character stated in which the gate member mounted on a rigid portion ot the appz `ratus and other than the outer end oit the stationary chute; to provide a structure whf in both et the last-reterred-to teaturcs are incorporated; to provide a structure wherein the movable chute member, or the gate, and prete 'ably both, are swingably mounted upon a shaft extending continuously across the stationary chute member which also by preference is the pipe through which the wateris supplied to the coal; to provide a structure `the gate of which may function either as an undercut, or an overcut, gate as desired, and which will operate in either direction without objectionable interference direction ot the arrow.

1927. Serial No. 199,234.

trom the coal flowing through the stationary chute; to provide a construction of cover plate for the stationary chute which will operate with maximum eiiiciency for shedding water in the various positions which it occupies in the operation of the apparatus; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying` drawings Figure l is a broken view in side elevation of a coaling station embodying my improvements, and so constructed that the gate thereot controlling the i'low oi" coal from the storage-bin may be operated to undercut or overcut the coal, as desired, this view showing, by full lines, the gate in closed position and the movable chute in position tor discharge into a tender, and by dotted lines, the gate in the position it occupies when open, in operating an undercut gate, and the movable chute member in normal raised position. Figure 2 is a plan sectional view taken at the line 2 on Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 3 is a broken longitudinal sectional view et the discharge end ot the movable chute member, the section being` taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the Figure et is an enlarged broken sectional view taken at the tine l on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction oit' the arrow. Figure 5 a sectional view taken at the line 5 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction ot the arrow. Figure 6 is a perspective view ot the upper end of the watersprayingr pipe from which water sprayed upon the coal in the stationary chute portion ot the apparatus. Figure 7 is a perspective view oi" the cover plate itor the stationary chute section. Figure 8 is perspective view of the stationary chute portion of the apparatus. Figure 9 is a perspective view ot the gate of the aoparatus. Figure l() is a perspective view of the rear end portion of the movable Chute member. Figure l1 isa broken sectional view taken at the linev l1 on Fig. i and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and Figure l2, a view like Fig. l showing apparatus embodying my invention and in lib which the gate operates only as an overcut gate.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, 13 represents a storage-bin, or receptacle, for the coal and which, in accordance with common practice, would be located to one side of the track alongr which the tenders to be supplied with coal, operate, the bin 13 being provided with an inclined bottom portion 14 on which the coal in the bin rests, the side wall of the bin 13 containing an outlet, represented at 15, at the lower end of the bottom wall 14.

Registering with the outlet 15 and eatending laterally from the bin and inclined downwardly toward the track referred to, is a stationary chute member 16 shown as in the form of a trough having spaced side walls 17, a bottom wall 18, and an upper plate portion 19, this chute member being secured to the side wall of the bin by relatively heavy angle-bars 20 secured at their fianges 2l to the bin as by the rivets 22 and at their forwardly extending flanges 23 to the side walls 17, as by rivets 24, the forward extremities of the walls 17 being rounded as represented at 25.

CooperatingV with the chute member 16 is a movable chute member, or apron, 26 forming an extension of the member 16 and provided for the purpose of directing the coal from the stationary chute member 16 into the tender to be supplied therewith. The chute member 26 is formed of a trough portion 27 terminating at its rear end in spaced arms 28 at which it is pivotally supported on a pipe 29 mounted in aligning openings 20l in the members 2l) above the upper edge portion of the chute lnember 16 and closely adjacent the bin 13, the arms 28 of the chute member 26 preferably extendingr at an angle to the trough portion 27 thereof as shown and the width of the chute member 27 being such that its arms 28 straddle the chute member 16. The outer end of the chute member 26, as represented at 30, comprises vertical side walls 31 spaced apart and secured to the opposite sides of the side walls of the trough portion 27 of the chute 26, and a front plate 32 connected with the forward edges of the plates 31, whereby the chute member 26 presents a dowrm-'ardlydirected discharge. opening 33. The front face of the plate 32 is provided with a step 34, and the angle irons, represented at 35 and by which the plates 31 and 32 are secured together, extend upwardly and are shown as braced by a cross-bar 36.

The apparatus also comprises a swinging gate member represented generally at 38 and shown as of general yoke shape presenting spaced apart plate portions 39 and a front plate portion 40 of curved cross section. The gate device is pivoted at its sideportions 23S) on the pipe .29 and is located between he stationary chute portion 16 and the arms 28 of the chute member 26, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the arcs described by the forward edges 25 of the plates 17 and by the plate 40 are substantiallyY concentric. Extending across the top of the chute-mene ber 16 and the gate 38 is a cover plate 37 for the member 16 which is pivoted on the pipe 29.

The movable chute member 26, adapted to be moved, under the control of the operator from the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 to the full line position therein shown, and vice versa, is associated with counterweighting means comprising cables 41 (one only of p'hich is shown) connected with the chute 'member 26 at the opposite sides of the latter and extending upwardly over pulleys 42 (one only of which is shown) journalled on the side wall of the bin 13, the other ends of these cables carrying series of counterweights 43 which operate to preferably slightly overbalance the chute member 26 to ensure the positioning of the latter as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, except when pulled down and held down by the operator.

The gate 38 in the particular construction now being described operates either as an undercut, or an overcut, gate, the position occupied thereby for preventing discharge of coal from the chute member 16 being that illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 and the open position thereof, when operating as an undercut gate, represented by dotted lines in thisl figure.

Associated with the gate 38 is mechanism controlling the position thereof and comprising a triangular plate 44 pivoted at one corner, as represented at 45 to a bracket on the side of the bin 13, pivotally supporting av weight 46 at another corner and connected at its third corner with one end of a cable 47 which passes upwardly around a pulley (not shown) mounted on the bin in line with, and between, the two pulleys 42, and thence downwardly to a f rame member' 48 carried by, and ext-ending upwardly from, the gate 36 to which frame member the cable 47 is connected, these parts being so constructed and arranged that the mechanism comprising the member 44- and weight 46 normally holds the gate in closed position as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and automatically returns the gate to this position after the latter has been forced down by the operator to open position. the mechanism referred to also cmnprising a cable 472l connected at one end with the cable 47 between the member 44 and the sheave over which the cable 47 extends and at its other end with the chute 26 where it is accessible to the operator standing on the tender.

In the use of the apparatus, assuming that a tender has been positioned to be coaledifrom the apparatus, the operator ulls down on the outer end of the chute mem er 2 6 to swing it from the dotted position shown in Fig. 1f to cir the full line position shown in this figure to cause its discharge opening 33 to register with the tender, the operator in this operation pressing with his foot downwardly on the step 34 to aid in lowering the chute 26, and holding it down during the coal-discharging operation. rlhe operator, assuming that it is desired the gate 38 be operated as an undercut gate, then swings the gate 38 downwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig. l, in opposition to the action of the weight 46, by pulling on the cable 49 which is connected with the outer end of the frame 48, the weight 46 and member in this operation rising to the dotted position shownA in F ig. 1, whereupon the coal discharges from the bin through the chute members 16 and 26 to the tender. To shut off the flow of coal the operator releases his grasp on the cable 49 thereby permitting the weight 46 to swing the member 44 from the dotted position shown in F ig. 1 to the full line position therein which automatically swings the gate to the closed, full line position, shown in Fig. 4. To operate the gate as an overcut gate the op erator draws down on the cable 47L ,which swings the gate upwardly to open position against the action of gravity, the gate automatically cutting through the coal by gravity and moving to closed position when the o erator releases his grasp on the cable 47a.

Thepipe 29, in the particular construction illustrated serves not only as a support for the apron, movable chute member and cover plate 37, but also, by reason of the provision oi outlets 50 therein, and its connection at one end with a pipe 51 leading from any suitable water supply (its opposite end being capped as shown at 52), as a means for directing a water spray upon the coal inthe chute member 16, to lay the dust, it being understood that the pipe 51 would be provided with any suitable valve mechanism (not shown) for controlling the supplying ot water to the pipe 29.v

it will be noted that if desired the structure shown may be modified to render the gate operable in one direction only to open condition. Thus it it is desired that it be caused to function only as an undercut structure the cable 47"L would. be omitted, and if to function only as an overcut structure the member 44, weight 46 and cable 49 would be omitted.

In Fig. 12 the construction is modified to cause it to operate as an overcut gate only, and in so modifying it the only change made is the omission of the member 44 and weight 46. In this particular construction a stop tor limiting downward movement of the gate to a position below closing position is necessary and, by way of example, such stop means may be afforded by rigidly securing the cover plate 37 to the gate, the plate 37 limiting downward movement of the gate by engaging the upper edges of the chute 16. i

It will be understood from the foregoing that the apparatus constructed as shown and described whereby the gate may be operated either to undercut or overcut the coal, is a matter of considerable importance from the standpoint of economy of manufacture.

It will also be noted that by constructing the parts as shown and described the chute portion 16 is not required to carry the weight of any relatively heavy parts such as the gate or movable chute member and thus may be made of relatively light gage metal and may be continued in use even when worn to relatively thin condition, without danger of tailure of the apparatus, it being further observed that these relatively heavy parts reierred to are supported on a relatively rigid part of the structure and closely adjacent to the bin 13, thereby providing rigidity to the discharge-controlling apparatus.

Furthermore the provision of the cover plate 37 as shown and described is of advantage inasmuch as it serves in a highly ellective manner to shed water from the interior of the chute member 16 thereby avoiding the great objection of freezing ot the coal to the chute member 16, it being note-d that the pivoting oi this cover plate closely adjacent to the bin 13 permits of the use oi such a long cover plate that should lumps of coal become lodged between the gate and this cover plate, in the operation of the gate as an undercut gate, the cover plate will not swing to horizontal position but will always incline downwardly away from the bin.

The feature of pivoting the movable chute member Q6 at a point closely adjacent the bin 13, is ot advantage as thereby relatively slight upward movement ot this chute member is required, in raising it to normal position1 to cause it to extendV outside oit the line oi clearance prescribedl by railway practice. This Jfeature is illustrated in F 1 and 12 wherein the clearance lines referred to are represented at 54 and 55; and its inclusion in an apparatus oi' this character, as will be man1- iest, minimizes the work required to be performed by the operator.

The feature oi pivoting the gate at a point closely adjacent the bin 13, when provided to function as an undercut gate is of advair tage inasmuch as the power required to move the gate upwardly to closed position, particularly should a lump ot coal become lodged between the gate and the cover plate, is greatly reduced over those structures in which the gate is otherwise pivoted.

Another practical feature ot the construction consists in the provision of the shatttorming member 29 which is provided to extend entirely across the chute member, making for rigid construction and functioning to particular advantage, above set lforth, when positioned adjacent the Lipper edge ot the chute member 16.

llt)

lil() Furthermore the provisions ot' the pipe 29 as a spray pipe and as a pivoting support tor the parts as described, is conducive to economy and rigidity of structure.

W'hile I have illustrated and described certain particular embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention otherwise embodied without depart-ing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a Jparatus of the character set Jforth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, and a water-conducting spray-pipe extending across said chute member closely adjacent said receptacle and laterally beyond said receptacle.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a water-conducting spray-pipe extending across said chute member closely adjacent said receptacle, and a second chute member pivoted on said pipe and cooperating with said first-named chute member.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a water-conducting spray-pipe extending across said chute member closely adjacent said receptacle, and a gate for said chute member pivoted on said pipe.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a water-conducting spray-pipe extending across said chute member closely adjacent said receptacle, a second chute member pivoted on said pipe and cooperating with said first-named chute member, and a gate for said chute member pivoted on said pipe.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth,` the combination of a receptacle for the material having` an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, and a movable chute member pivoted to said rigid members.

6. In apparatus of the character set t'orth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, and a gate for said chute member pivoted to said rigid members.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, a movable chute member pivoted to said rigid members, and a gate for said chute member pivoted to said rigid4 members.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outiet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, and a water-conducting spray-pipe extending across said chute member and supported by said rigid members.

9. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing sait?` chute member to said receptacle, a water-conducting spraypipe extending across said chute member and supported by said rigid members, and a movable chute member pivoted on said pipe.

10. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the mate,- rial having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a shaft extending across said chute member closely adjacent said receptacle, a cover for said chute member pivoted on said shaft. and a movable chute member pivoted on said shaft and cooperating with said stationary chute member.

11. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a shaft extending across said chute member closely adjacent said receptacle, a cover for said chute member pivoted on said shaft, a movable chute member pivoted on said shaft and cooperating with said stationary chute member, and a gate for said stationary chute member pivoted on said shaft.

12. In apparatus of the character set vforth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a pivoted gate for saidl chute movable either upwardly or downwardly from chute-closing position, and means operatingautomatically to return said gate to closed position after movement of the latter in one direction to open position and permitting said gate to he moved in the other direction to open position.

13. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle tor the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a shatt extending across said chute member closely adjacent said receptacle and above the path 0f flow of material therethrough, a. movable chute member pivoted on said shaft and cooperating with said stationary chute member,

and a gate for said stationary chute member pivoted on said shaft.

14. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, a shaft extending across said chute member and supported by said rigid members, and a movable chute member pivoted on said shaft.

15. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, a water-conducting spray pipe extending' across said chute member and supported by said rigid members, a movable chute member pivoted on said pipe, and a gate for said stationary chute member pivoted on said pipe.

16. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, a pipe extending across said chute member and supported by said rigid members, and a gate for said chute member pivoted on said pipe.

17. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members securing said chute member to said receptacle, a shaft extending across said chute member and supported by said rigid members, a movable chute member pivoted on said shaft and a gate for said stationary chute member pivoted on said shaft.

18. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, rigid members in the form of angle brackets securing said chute member to saidy receptacle, and a movable chute member pivoted on said rigid members.

19. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a pivoted gate for said chute movable either upwardly or downwardly from chute-closing position, and means operating automatically to return said gate to closed position after movement of the latter downwardly to open position and permitting said gate to be moved upwardly into open position.

20. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a receptacle for the material having an outlet, a stationary chute member communicating with said outlet, a pivoted gate for said chute movable either upwardly in closed position.

BARTON S. SNOIV. 

